West Europe - Area 4

A comment of Bernhard Kunz, CEO of Hupac Ltd
5.7.2010

The media have covered the news: SBB Cargo and Hupac are mutually founding a rail carrier "SBB Cargo International" for the traction of intermodal and block trains on the north-south axis. A company with a greenfield approach, designed to improve the competitiveness of rail traction sustainably thanks to lean structures, standardized processes, efficient systems and high productivity.

This innovative business model has been made possible thanks to decades of collaboration between SBB and Hupac. Stockholders of the society are SBB Cargo with 75% share and Hupac with 25%. SBB Cargo is contributing traction resources and rail know-how to the new company, while Hupac enjoys market presence throughout all of Europe and provides part of the transport volume. Above all, Hupac contributes flexibility and innovative strength of logistics to the new rail company – and we're convinced that the market will profit from this creating a virtuous circle.

The new company will operate at the same conditions for all operators. We know how important neutrality is for the market and will ensure that this is provided. However, most important of all, the company will enable us to maintain our independence in the interest of the market. Hupac will continue to collaborate with a wide range of rail companies. Our guiding principle is competitiveness – resources, quality and price – of our rail partners.

Hupac supports the opening of the rail market – and nothing changes in this respect in the future. We need a successful, internationally operating Swiss rail freight company in order to ensure an open rail market in transit over the Alps. With the founding of SBB Cargo International we are convinced that we are providing important stimuli for intermodal transport.